[Grammar] Negative of "used to"

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cereal_chick

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I was wondering about used to and how it forms its negative. I can think of three ways of making it negative, but I'm not sure if there is a proper way of making it negative.

"I didn't use to be like this"

"I used not to be like this"

"I used to not be like this"

Can anyone shed some light on it?
Thank you.
 

shannico

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I tend to prefer did +not+use to. I feel it's more contemporary, as used+not+to seems to be somewhat more archaic/formal to me. I would use "Did you use to...?" in questions as well as opposed to "Used you to..?". Having said that, usedn't is widely used in Hiberno-English in its contracted form.
I've included this link used to - definition of used to by Macmillan Dictionary.
I think it gives a very accurate explanation of how this form has evolved in time.
 

SoothingDave

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The first is the most natural. The third is OK (it actually puts more emphasis on the "not"). The second is not right at all.
 

Tdol

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In BrE, you will come across the second- it sounds fine to me.
 

5jj

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The first is the most natural. The third is OK (it actually puts more emphasis on the "not"). The second is not right at all.
For me, the first is the most natural these days. The second is fine, if a lttle stuffy. The third is unnatural.
 
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